BLACK . T O R N A D O . THEATER

26 June 2008

Lear - Additional Casting Notes, Scripts

Scripts with LINE CUTS are available in .pdf and .doc format to download. I will also be available for physical delivery / pickup of same Friday and o'er the weekend. Post a comment if you need me to do this!

Two additional SPEAKING casts member has been added - Brandon Todd will add France to his heretofore non-speaking duties, while Sandra adds "1st Servant" and gets to die :).

There are words spake by Gentlemen and Soldiers. Those will be distributed amongst the various members of the cast from the second column. Those will also be on stage in various costumes to present in manner servants and soldiers and retinue beyond those with lines. There will be shouting and carousing for some :) Those in the first column are playing only the listed roles.

12 June 2008

Who's going to The Hulk?

The upcoming Edward Norton picture has a Zak Penn screenplay - Zak was my first director in college. He was a sophomore who KNEW he was majoring in theater and was therefore taking Directing I, I was a sophomore who knew I was majoring in History and was taking a class called Directed Experiences in Acting to fulfill the distribution requirements outside my major. The scene (for performance in class) was from a script called "How I Got That Story" -- by the time I was done with course, I'd declared as a theater major and was in the cast of two shows going into rehearsal as soon as winter break ended - The Tempest and a student-written piece called Open Eyes, scheduled just like Antigone and Rosencrantz were.

Anyway, Zak seems to do OK when writing comic book adaptations (X2, X3, Elektra, and coming soon, The Avengers). Do we make it a opening night shindig? Or will it just be me and Jacob? :P

[UPDATE] So... no response for the midnight show. I am prolly gonna catch a matinee on Fri

11 June 2008

Excellent Awards

So here's the DVD Extras :) (the awards that weren't given due to inconclusive voting or bad juju) (also TIME consideration)

The Politically incorrect Complexion Award for Ethnic Casting was a virtual tie twixt Grant and Jacob and was potentially more trouble than it was worth.

Sponge was... welll.. I think I am gonna retire that award unless we can make it an In-Character award and give it to another cardboard cow.

Best Kiss was also close between the real life couple in Fantasticks and the Not at All Couple in Much Ado... the balcony sequence did get more votes... I should also note that a kiss that didn't even happen (Hero and Claudio) got several votes...what is up with that?

Froshmore was to Sandra and not close"Freshman" to Lola and also not close

The things from the International Thespians will be delivered to the school where I can't get them and where I can't work with them, barring some kind of miracle. So certificates will done when ever I can get back into the school. Pins (both Troupe and Activities) will be here in a little over a week.

Someone jar my memory on last year's certificate deficit - Jenny, Angie, Tessa, and SOMEONE ELSE... who was the someone else... it was someone who we weren't gonna lose... Ah well. Moving on.

09 June 2008

Thespian Inductions are

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11th

6 PM

Bear Creek Park (Picnic Area)

It’s a potluck so if you could please RSVP what dish you can bring to feed at least 8 people and drinks to quench your own party (non-alcoholic please) that would be great!Food must arrive at the park by 5:30 so that we can all start eating at 6. The ceremony will start around 7.This event is not formal, but please dress nice!

Contact Jenny Warren or Kayla Garrett(Via myspace or phone numbers if you have them)

Thanks and we’ll see you Wednesday!

(Keep in mind that the Troupe is providing hamburgers, hotdogs and buns...BUT WE STILL NEED CONDIMENTS and salads and desserts...so please please please let us know what you will be bringing so that last minute shopping runs can be made, if it is an absolute necessity, and dont end up with 6,000 plates of brownies and lettuce...and nothing else.)

08 June 2008

Workshop - Line cuts update

I've finished preliminary cuts for Act I. Some of Edmund's monologues about astrology and one of the Fool's songs are among the casualties. Would follks be willing to do a read thru of the thing at some point for timing purposes, to decide if more needs to go? I am thinking, about a week from now? Also have a pretty solid idea on how the ensemble distribution is going to happen.ALSORemember today and tomorrow (Mon and Tue) are the Focus Group sessions at OSF...

05 June 2008

Coriolanus - July 15

We will be seeing Coriolanus in the New Theater, in part to get a sense of the language again (I find it easier and easier to deal with Shakespeare the more and more I am hearing it), in part to watch an ensemble cover the range of roles, and in part just to watch some good theater.

Most of the seats are in pairs and are scattered all around the theater. Know who your seating buddies will be. There are two sets of THREE.

You are of course on best behavior - any issues of inappropriate audience conduct will have ramifications on both the Lear production and possibly beyond, depending. Not being harsh, just putting it out up front so if I have to be a heavy, there won't be a 'we didn't know' thing.

If folks need rides to Ashland, please let us know here so we can coordinate getting you all to the show.

If you CAN'T go, let me know and I'll open the extra seats up to other Troupe members who may be interested. As of now, we have seats for 19, which is Cast plus Current Production team. Any late addition production staff or crew will mean I try to get some more seats. So far, there are a decent number still available.